Sitehop is a Sheffield-based cybersecurity startup that has created the SAFEseries, a hardware platform that performs line-speed, quantum-ready encryption while consuming just one-tenth of the energy of traditional software-based solutions. By embedding encryption directly into hardware, the company eliminates the latency bottlenecks that plague software approaches, making it attractive for data-intensive applications across telecoms, financial services and national infrastructure. Early traction includes a live deployment with a tier-one carrier operating in five countries and a proof-of-concept trial in BT’s Gemini test facility, where Sitehop became the first external company granted access. Founded by telecoms veteran Melissa Chambers and FPGA/cryptography expert Ben Harper, the team positions its technology as future-proof protection against quantum-era threats. The fresh capital will be used to accelerate international expansion while continuing to build UK-sovereign encryption capability. To date, the company has raised £13.5 million, with earlier backing from investors such as Amadeus Capital Partners, Manta Ray, Mercia Ventures and NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance.

Total raised

$16M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Oct 2025